Grow Local, Buy Local, Eat Local

Sudbury residents are being encouraged to take up the challenge of only eating food produced within 30 miles of the town in September.
The 30-Mile Food Challenge will be launched at Sudbury's farmers market on Friday 30 August, when Transition Sudbury and District will have a stand promoting the initiative from 9.30am outside St Peter's Church. There will be a raffle with prizes donated by local shops and producers including a food hamper from Health Foods for You, Lavenham Brook Sparkling Wine 2010 and vouchers from the Rafi's Spicebox, The Suffolk Venison Larder and Seasonal Suffolk.  

 The group will be handing out free calendars and stickers for children to record what they have eaten during September and there will be a competition to win a £10 voucher for Ice Cream from Hadley's Dairy Products.

 The challenge is part of a Suffolk-wide movement, organised by Transition groups, to encourage people to source their food and drink locally to benefit local farmers and producers and support the associated distribution and retail jobs.  The group will have details of where items can be purchased to make it as easy as possible to take part.

This keeps our money in our local economy, and reduces food miles and carbon emissions. Local food is often fresher and has less packaging.

But don't worry - you can take three non-local items such as tea, bananas and chocolate to keep you going during the local food challenge!

Many Suffolk towns are taking part, including Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Woodbridge, Bungay, Saxmundham and Halesworth, and there is a whole series of events being put on, including tasting weekends, cookery courses, farm visits, pickling and bottling and bread-making workshops, picnics and meals supporting local food.

Sudbury Transition group is organising a 'bring and share' local food lunch on Saturday 21 September. If you would like to come along, please get in touch with Jane Hatton on 01787 468634.

To find out more, please visit http://30milefood.transitionipswich.org.uk/  and click on 'Local Groups' for Sudbury, or for a leaflet detailing events and producers, please contact Jane Hatton on 01787 468634 j.hatton@btinternet.com or visit Sudbury Tourist Information in the town centre.